Ink composition and method for ink jet recording

ABSTRACT

An ink composition for ink jet recording contains a polymer particle that has a core portion and a shell portion on a surface of the core portion. The core portion has a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less, and the shell portion has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or more. The difference between the glass transition temperature of the core portion and that of the shell portion is 30° C. or more.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink composition for ink jetrecording and an ink jet recording method.

2. Related Art

Some known printing methods are based on ink jet recording, a techniqueby which images can be recorded on a recording medium by dischargingfine droplets of ink from nozzles of a recording head onto the recordingmedium. The ink jet recording technology has greatly advanced in recentyears, and such printing methods using ink jet recording are now alsoused in the area of high-definition image recording, previously possibleonly by photography or offset printing. Various proposals have been madeabout inks for this purpose, in particular, inks with which high-qualityimages can be recorded on recording media that absorb little or no ink.

Images recorded on a recording medium that absorbs little or no ink donot firmly adhere to the recording medium in some cases. An example of away to make such images more firmly fixed is to add a resin emulsion (afixing resin) to the ink. More recently, core-shell resin emulsions havebeen used to add various functions to inks while improving the fixationof images.

For example, JP-A-2002-12802 discloses the use of a core-shell particlethat has a core portion made of a thermoplastic resin and a shellportion made of a three-dimensionally crosslinked resin so that recordedimages can be stored well and can be erased from the recording medium asnecessary for repeated use of the recording medium. JP-A-2012-25947discloses the use of a core-shell particle that has a core portion madeof an acrylic resin and a shell portion made of a polycarbonate-basedurethane resin so that the ink has excellent discharge stability andstorage stability and that images have excellent fastness such asresistance to abrasion and marking with pens. J-PA-2012-92224 disclosesthe use of a core-shell particle that has a core portion made of anacrylic resin and a shell portion made of a urethane resin so that theink can be applied to recording media that absorb no ink, such asplastic or metal substrates, and that the ink is highly adhesive, formsgood films, and is highly resistant to chemicals.

JP-A-2012-72354 discloses the use of a tri-block copolymer. Although notof a core-shell type, this copolymer imparts excellent storage stabilityand discharge stability to aqueous inks for ink jet recording and makesimages highly resistant to abrasion. JP-A-2006-45304 andJP-A-2004-211089 disclose the use of a crosslinked polymer derived frompolyfunctional monomers.

However, the core-shell particle disclosed in JP-A-2002-12802 oftencauses poor fixation of images because the shell portion has acrosslinked structure. The core-shell particles disclosed inJP-A-2012-25947 and JP-A-2012-92224 improve the fixation of images, butthe urethane resin used in their shell portion causes the nozzles of therecording head to be unlikely to recover once clogged. The tri-blockcopolymer disclosed in JP-A-2012-72354 imparts good discharge stabilityto ink depending on what monomers the copolymer is composed of, but thiscopolymer also causes the nozzles of the recording head to be unlikelyto recover once clogged. The crosslinked polymers disclosed inJP-A-2006-45304 and JP-A-2004-211089 often cause poor fixation ofimages.

SUMMARY

An advantage of an aspect of the invention is that it provides an inkcomposition for ink jet recording with which images resistant toabrasion can be recorded on recording media and which can be dischargedfrom nozzles of a recording head in a stable manner. An advantage ofanother aspect of the invention is that it provides an ink jet recordingmethod using such an ink composition.

The following describes some aspects or illustrative applications of theinvention.

Application 1

An aspect of the ink composition for ink jet recording according to theinvention contains a polymer particle. The polymer particle has a coreportion and a shell portion on the surface of the core portion. The coreportion has a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less, and theshell portion has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or more. Thedifference between the glass transition temperature of the core portionand that of the shell portion is 30° C. or more.

The aspect according to Application 1 is effective in preventing thepolymer particle from adhering to nozzles because the shell portion isimmune to the temperature changes associated with discharge of the inkand forms a stable hydrate layer around itself. As a result, the ink canbe discharged from nozzles of a recording head in a stable manner.

The aspect of Application 1 also leads to improved abrasion resistanceof the image on a recording medium because when the recoding mediumafter the image has been drawn by the ink is heated to a predeterminedtemperature, not only the shell portion but also the core portion isdissolved, and the surface of the image is coated mainly with thepolymer that forms the core portion.

Application 2

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Application 1 can beconfigured so that the mass ratio c/s is in the range of 0.4 to 4, wherec and s are the mass of the core portion and the shell portion,respectively, of the polymer particle and that the relation (c/s)/φ≧0.01is satisfied where φ is the particle diameter (nm) of the polymerparticle.

Application 3

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 and 2 canbe configured so that 80% by mass or more of all repeating units of thecore portion of the polymer particle are derived from a hydrophobicmonomer.

Application 4

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 3 can beconfigured so that 80% by mass or more of all repeating units of theshell portion of the polymer particle are derived from a hydrophilicmonomer.

Application 5

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 3 can beconfigured so that 80% by mass or more of all repeating units of theshell portion of the polymer particle are composed of a repeating unit(A) derived from at least one selected from the group consisting ofmethyl (meth)acrylate and ethyl (meth)acrylate and a repeating unit (B)derived from (meth)acrylic acid.

Application 6

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 5 can beconfigured so that the shell portion of the polymer particle has arepeating unit (C) derived from at least one hydrophobic monomerselected from the group consisting of a monofunctional (meth)acrylatehaving an alkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms and a(meth)acrylate having a ring structure containing 4 or more carbonatoms.

Application 7

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Application 6 can beconfigured so that the ring structure is an alicyclic or heterocyclicstructure.

Application 8

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 6 and 7 canbe configured so that the repeating unit (C) constitutes 1% to 10% bymass of all repeating units of the shell portion of the polymerparticle.

Application 9

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 6 to 8 can beconfigured so that the shell portion of the polymer particle further hasa repeating unit (D) derived from a (meth)acrylate having a polyalkyleneglycol unit.

Application 10

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Application 9 can beconfigured so that the repeating unit (D) constitutes 1% to 10% by massof all repeating units of the shell portion of the polymer particle.

Application 11

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 10 canbe configured so that the particle diameter of the polymer particle isin the range of 30 nm to 500 nm.

Application 12

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 11 canbe configured so that the gel fraction of the polymer particle is 10% orless as measured in tetrahydrofuran.

Application 13

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 12 canbe configured so that the polymer particle content is in the range of0.5% to 20% by mass, both inclusive.

Application 14

The ink compositions for ink jet recording of Applications 1 to 13 canbe configured so that the emulsifier content of the ink is 0.01% by massor less.

Application 15

An aspect of the ink jet recording method according to the inventionincludes (a) discharging droplets of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to any one of Applications 1 to 14 from a recordinghead onto a recording medium and (b) heating the recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following describes some preferred embodiments of the invention.These embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention. The invention includesall modifications that can be implemented without departing from thegist thereof. The term (meth)acrylic, as used herein, includes bothacrylic and methacrylic compounds, and (meth)acrylate includes both anacrylate and the corresponding methacrylate.

1. INK COMPOSITION FOR INK JET RECORDING

An ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcontains a polymer particle. The polymer particle has a core portion anda shell portion on the surface of the core portion. The core portion hasa glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less, and the shell portionhas a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or more. The differencebetween the glass transition temperature of the core portion and that ofthe shell portion is 30° C. or more. The following describes the polymerparticle contained in the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to this embodiment and then mentions additives.

1.1. Polymer Particle

The polymer particle contained in the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment is a core-shell polymer particle,which has a core portion and a shell portion on the surface of the coreportion.

The glass transition temperature (hereinafter also referred to as T_(g))of the core portion of the polymer particle is 0° C. or less, preferably−30° C. to 0° C., both inclusive. When the T_(g) of the core portion isin this range, treatment such as heating makes the core portion dissolvesimultaneously with the shell portion and form a coating on the imagerecorded on a recording medium. As a result, the abrasion resistance ofthe image on the recording medium is improved.

Preferably, the core portion is a polymer that has repeating unitsderived from a hydrophobic polymer. The use of a hydrophobic coreportion enhances the abrasion resistance of the image recorded on arecording medium because the core portion forms a hydrophobic coating onthe surface of the image after treatment such as heating. It istherefore preferred that 80% by mass or more, more preferably 90% bymass or more, of all repeating units of the core portion are derivedfrom a hydrophobic monomer. The term hydrophobic monomer, as usedherein, refers to a monomer the solubility of which is less than 0.3 gper 100 mL water (20° C.).

Examples of such hydrophobic monomers include the following:monofunctional (meth)acrylates that have an alkyl group containing 3 ormore carbon atoms such as n-propyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl(meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, n-amyl(meth)acrylate, isoamyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate,2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, nonyl(meth)acrylate, decyl (meth)acrylate, lauryl (meth)acrylate, stearyl(meth)acrylate, cetyl (meth)acrylate, neopentyl (meth)acrylate, andbehenyl (meth)acrylate; (meth)acrylates that have a ring structure suchas cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate,dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate,isobornyl (meth)acrylate, norbornyl (meth)acrylate, adamantyl(meth)acrylate, and tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate; and aromaticvinyls such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, vinyl toluene,chlorostyrene, and divinylbenzene. One or more of such monomers can beused.

The T_(g) of the shell portion of the polymer particle is 20° C. ormore, preferably 20° C. to 60° C., both inclusive, more preferably 25°C. to 40° C., both inclusive. The ink may occasionally be heated inpreparation for discharge or as a result of radiation of heat from aplaten, and the shell portion is immune to such temperature changesbefore or during discharge of the ink when the T_(g) of the shellportion is in this range. As a result, the polymer particle can bedischarged from a recording head without losing its core-shellstructure.

Preferably, the shell portion is a polymer that has repeating unitsderived from a hydrophilic polymer. The use of a hydrophilic shellportion improves the dispersion stability of the polymer particle in theink composition because the shell portion forms a hydrate layer arounditself. The use of such a shell portion also ensures that the ink can bedischarged from nozzles of a recording head in a stable manner becausethe polymer particle is effectively prevented from adhering to thenozzles. It is therefore preferred that 80% by mass or more, morepreferably 90% by mass or more, in particular 95% by mass or more, ofall repeating units of the shell portion are derived from a hydrophilicmonomer. The term hydrophilic monomer, as used herein, refers to amonomer the solubility of which is 0.3 g or more per 100 mL water (20°C.).

Examples of such hydrophilic monomers include the following:(meth)acrylates such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate,α-hydroxymethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate,(poly)ethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxy (poly)ethylene glycol(meth)acrylate, ethoxy (poly)ethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, and(poly)propylene glycol (meth)acrylate; (meth)acrylamides and theirN-substituted derivatives such as (meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxymethyl(meth)acrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, andN,N-dimethylacryl(meth)amide; and unsaturated carboxylic acids such asacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, maleic acid, fumaricacid, and itaconic acid. One or more of such monomers can be used.

The surface acid value of the shell portion is preferably in the rangeof 20 to 400 mg KOH/g, more preferably 30 to 250 mg KOH/g, in particular40 to 120 mg KOH/g. The use of the shell portion with the acid value inthis range provides good dispersion stability of the polymer particle inthe ink, and also ensures good discharge stability of the ink becausethe viscosity of the ink remains not too high. The surface acid value ofthe shell portion can be determined by measuring the conductivity of anaqueous dispersion of the polymer particle while adding potassiumhydroxide solution dropwise.

The difference between the T_(g) of the core portion and that of theshell portion is 30° C. or more, preferably 30° C. to 65° C., bothinclusive. When the difference in T_(g) between the core portion and theshell portion is in this range, both the discharge stability of the inkand the abrasion resistance of the image on a recording medium areimproved. When the difference between the T_(g) of the core portion andthat of the shell portion is less than 30° C., the abrasion resistanceof the image may be affected.

Preferably, the shell portion is a polymer that has repeating unitsderived from a (meth)acrylate and an unsaturated carboxylic acid. Thisis because in such a case the carboxy groups on the surface of the shellportion help to ensure that the T_(g) and the acid value of this portionare in their respective preferred ranges specified above. Morespecifically, it is preferred that 80% by mass or more, more preferably90% by mass or more, in particular 95% by mass or more, of all repeatingunits of the shell portion are derived from a (meth)acrylate or anunsaturated carboxylic acid.

Examples of preferred (meth)acrylates include methyl (meth)acrylate andethyl (meth)acrylate. Examples of preferred unsaturated carboxylic acidsinclude (meth)acrylic acid. It is therefore preferred that the repeatingunits of the shell portion include a repeating unit (A) derived from atleast one selected from the group consisting of methyl (meth)acrylateand ethyl (meth)acrylate and a repeating unit (B) derived from(meth)acrylic acid.

It is also preferred that the shell portion, which has a T_(g) of 20° C.or more, is a polymer that has a repeating unit (C) derived from atleast one hydrophobic monomer selected from the group consisting of amonofunctional (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group containing 8 or morecarbon atoms and a (meth)acrylate having a ring structure containing 4or more carbon atoms. When the shell portion is a polymer that has therepeating unit (C), steric repulsion is induced and enhances thedispersion stability of the polymer particle, and the hydrophobicityimparted to the shell portion ensures excellent dispersion stability ofthe polymer particle even when the ink is low-moisture one, i.e., an inkwith a water content of 60% by mass or less.

Incidentally, while ink is discharged through nozzles, water containedin the ink evaporates near the nozzles and the organic solvent contentof the ink increases, occasionally causing defects such as clogging andpoor alignment of ink droplets. An example of a way to prevent suchdefects is to perform the treatment called flushing on a regular basisto maintain sufficient discharge stability. However, printing using aline head or on a large recording medium (e.g., larger than the A3 papersize) using a serial head is more likely to suffer from such dischargedefects than printing on a smaller recording medium (e.g., A3 orsmaller) using a serial-printing head because it takes a longer time toreturn the recording medium and flush the printer. Furthermore, evenprinting on a relatively small recording medium using a serial headoften suffers from such discharge defects when the ink jet recordingapparatus has a drying means as described later herein.

With an ink jet ink that contains a polymer having a shell portion witha T_(g) of 20° C. or more and containing the repeating unit (C),therefore, such discharge defects are unlikely to occur regardless ofwhich printing process is chosen, i.e., printing using a line head,printing on a large recording medium using a serial head, or printingusing an ink jet recording apparatus having a drying means. Furthermore,such an ink has excellent discharge stability not only in continuousprinting but also in intermittent printing, i.e., printing a smallnumber of pages several times.

Examples of monofunctional (meth)acrylates that have an alkyl groupcontaining 8 or more carbon atoms include 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate,n-octyl (meth)acrylate, nonyl (meth)acrylate, decyl (meth)acrylate,lauryl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, cetyl (meth)acrylate, andbehenyl (meth)acrylate. Among such monofunctional (meth)acrylates havingan alkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms, those having an alkylgroup containing 12 or more carbon atoms are particularly preferred,including lauryl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, cetyl(meth)acrylate, and behenyl (meth)acrylate.

Examples of (meth)acrylates that have a ring structure containing 4 ormore carbon atoms include cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl(meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl(meth)acrylate, isobornyl (meth)acrylate, norbornyl (meth)acrylate,adamantyl (meth)acrylate, and tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate. When such a(meth)acrylate having a ring structure containing 4 or more carbon atomsis used, the “ring structure” is preferably an alicyclic or heterocyclicstructure. Among such (meth)acrylates having a ring structure containing4 or more carbon atoms, alicyclic ones having an alicyclic structurecontaining 8 or more carbon atoms are particularly preferred, includingisobornyl (meth)acrylate, norbornyl (meth)acrylate, and adamantyl(meth)acrylate.

The percentage of the recording unit (C) out of all repeating units ofthe shell portion is not limited as long as the T_(g) of the shellportion is 20° C. or more. It can be in the range of 1% to 10% by mass,for example, and is preferably selected so that the T_(g) and the acidvalue of the shell portion are in their respective preferred rangesspecified above.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the shell portion, which has a T_(g)of 20° C. or more, is a polymer that has, in addition to the repeatingunit (C), a repeating unit (D) derived from a hydrophilic (meth)acrylatemonomer that has a polyalkylene glycol unit. When the shell portion issuch a polymer, steric repulsion is induced and enhances the dispersionstability of the polymer particle, and the hydrophilicity imparted tothe shell portion makes the polymer particle suitable for use in aqueousinks.

Such a (meth)acrylate having a polyalkylene glycol unit is preferably a(meth)acrylate that contains at least one of a polyethylene glycol unitand a polypropylene glycol unit because with such a (meth)acrylate theshell portion imparts excellent dispersion stability to the polymerparticle.

Every appropriate polyalkylene glycol unit can be used to achieve thedesired characteristics of the shell portion such as hydrophilicity. Anexample of a preferred polyalkylene glycol unit is one that has a(number-average) molecular weight of 100 to 1000, more preferably 400 to1000. The use of a polyalkylene glycol unit with the degree ofpolymerization in this range leads to excellent dispersion stability ofthe polymer particle and thus provides excellent discharge stability ofthe ink, particularly in intermittent printing.

Specific examples of (meth)acrylates that contain a polyalkylene glycolunit include triethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, tetraethylene glycol(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylates whose polyethyleneglycol unit has a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 1000,polypropylene glycol (meth)acrylates whose polypropylene glycol unit hasa number-average molecular weight of 100 to 1000, methoxy triethyleneglycol (meth)acrylate, methoxy tetraethylene glycol (meth)acrylate,methoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylates whose polyethylene glycolunit has a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 1000, ethoxytriethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxy tetraethylene glycol(meth)acrylate, and ethoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylates whosepolyethylene glycol unit has a number-average molecular weight of 200 to1000. In particular, the following are preferred: polyethylene glycol(meth)acrylates whose polyethylene glycol unit has a number-averagemolecular weight of 400 to 1000, methoxy polyethylene glycol(meth)acrylates whose polyethylene glycol unit has a number-averagemolecular weight of 400 to 1000, and ethoxy polyethylene glycol(meth)acrylates whose polyethylene glycol unit has a number-averagemolecular weight of 400 to 1000.

The percentage of the recording unit (D) out of all repeating units ofthe shell portion is not limited as long as the T_(g) of the shellportion is 20° C. or more. It can be in the range of 1% to 10% by mass,for example, and is preferably selected so that the T_(g) and the acidvalue of the shell portion are in their respective preferred rangesspecified above. Since (meth)acrylates that contain a polyalkyleneglycol unit are hydrophilic monomers, it is preferred that 80% by massor more, more preferably 90% by mass or more, of all repeating units ofthe shell portion are ones derived from a hydrophilic monomer, includingthe repeating unit (D).

As a result, a preferred configuration of the polymer particle containedin the ink composition for ink jet recording according to thisembodiment is as follows: the glass transition temperature of its coreportion is 0° C. or less, the glass transition temperature of its shellportion is 20° C. or more, the difference between the glass transitiontemperature of the core portion and that of the shell portion is 30° C.or more, and the repeating units of the shell portion include therepeating unit (C). The use of such a polymer particle provides goodabrasion resistance of the image recorded on a recording medium and,particularly in intermittent printing, enhanced discharge stability ofthe ink.

A more preferred configuration of the polymer particle contained in theink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodiment is asfollows: the glass transition temperature of its core portion is 0° C.or less, the glass transition temperature of its shell portion is 20° C.or more, the difference between the glass transition temperature of thecore portion and that of the shell portion is 30° C. or more, and therepeating units of the shell portion include the repeating units (C) and(D). The use of such a polymer particle provides, in addition to theadvantages of the above preferred configuration, enhanced dischargestability of aqueous ink jet inks owing to the repeating unit (D) as arepeating unit of the shell portion.

An even more preferred configuration of the polymer particle containedin the ink composition for ink jet recording according to thisembodiment is as follows: the glass transition temperature of its coreportion is 0° C. or less, the glass transition temperature of its shellportion is 20° C. or more, the difference between the glass transitiontemperature of the core portion and that of the shell portion is 30° C.or more, and the repeating units of the shell portion include therepeating units (A), (B), and (C), preferably the repeating units (A),(B), (C), and (D). The use of such a polymer particle, in addition toproviding the advantages of the above preferred configurations, helps toensure that the T_(g) and the acid value of the shell portion are intheir respective preferred ranges specified above, owing to therepeating units (A) and (B) as repeating units of the shell portion.

The particle diameter (φ) of the polymer particle is preferably in therange of 30 nm to 500 nm, more preferably 30 nm to 200 nm, in particular30 nm to 150 nm. The use of the polymer particle with the particlediameter in this range provides good dispersion stability of the polymerparticle in the ink and makes it easier to impart gloss to the image ona recording medium. The particle diameter (φ) of the polymer particle isthe volume-based average particle diameter, which can be determined byvarious methods such as dynamic light scattering or observation under atransmission electron microscope. The measurements in the Examplesherein below were obtained by laser diffraction/scattering (theMicrotrac method), an analytical method based on light scattering.

The ratio c/s, where c and s are the mass of the core portion and theshell portion, respectively, of the polymer particle, is preferably inthe range of 0.4 to 4.0, more preferably 0.5 to 2.5, in particular 0.6to 2.0. Furthermore, the use of a polymer particle that satisfies therelation (c/s)/φ≧0.01 generally improves both the discharge stability ofthe ink and the abrasion resistance of the image on a recording mediumregardless of the size of the polymer particle, because of the goodbalance between the mass of the core portion and that of the shellportion.

Preferably, the polymers constituting the core portion and the shellportion of the polymer particle are not crosslinked; the use of acrosslinked core or shell portion generally affects the dischargestability of the ink.

The degree of crosslinking of a polymer can be determined by, forexample, measuring the gel fraction of the polymer in tetrahydrofuran(THF) (hereinafter also referred to as the THF gel fraction). The gelfraction of the polymer particle is preferably 10% or less, morepreferably 5% or less, so that the abrasion resistance of the image on arecording medium can be improved.

The THF gel fraction of the polymer particle can be measured in thefollowing way, for example. About 10 g of the core-shell polymerparticle is weighed on a Teflon (registered trademark) dish and dried at120° C. for 1 hour. The obtained film is immersed in THF at 20° C. for24 hours, and the solution is filtered through a 100-mesh filter. Afterthe film is dried at 20° C. for another 24 hours, the THF gel fraction(%) is determined using the following equation:THF gel fraction (%)=(the mass after the second drying period/theinitial mass)×100.

The amount of the polymer particle in the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment (based on the solid content) ispreferably in the range of 0.5% to 20% by mass, both inclusive, morepreferably 0.6% to 15% by mass, both inclusive, in particular, 0.7% to10% by mass, both inclusive.

The core-shell polymer particle mentioned herein does not necessarilyhave a clear boundary between its core portion and shell portion; whatis required is that the polymer that forms the core portion be localizedin the core portion and the polymer that forms the shell portion belocalized in the shell portion. This means that the polymer localized inthe core portion and that localized in the shell portion have differentphysical properties, thereby providing the intended advantages of thepolymer particle.

The polymer particle contained in the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment can be synthesized by any methodas long as the particle is configured as described above. For example,some known emulsion polymerization processes and appropriatecombinations thereof are easy ways to synthesize such a polymerparticle. Specific examples include batch polymerization by mixing allof the monomer at once, dropwise addition of the monomer or itspre-emulsion, seeded emulsion polymerization, multiple emulsionpolymerization (e.g., two-step emulsion polymerization), andreverse-phase emulsion polymerization. The following is an example of amethod for synthesizing the polymer particle.

First, a core particle is synthesized by an ordinary emulsionpolymerization process using an aqueous medium. The conditions of theemulsion polymerization can be according to known methods. For example,the amount of water is usually in the range of 100 to 500 parts when thetotal amount of the monomer is defined as 100 parts, the polymerizationtemperature can be in the range of −10° C. to 100° C. (preferably −5° C.to 100° C., more preferably 0° C. to 90° C.), and the polymerizationperiod can be in the range of 0.1 to 30 hours (preferably 2 to 25hours). Examples of emulsion polymerization schemes that can be usedinclude batch polymerization (feeding all of the monomer at once),feeding the monomer intermittently or continuously, feeding apre-emulsion of the monomer intermittently or continuously, and asequence of some of these schemes. If necessary, one or two or moreagents for conventional emulsion polymerization processes can be used,including polymerization initiators, molecular weight regulators, andemulsifiers.

Examples of polymerization initiators that can be used include thefollowing: persulfates such as potassium persulfate and ammoniumpersulfate; organic peroxides such as diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate,benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, and tert-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate; azo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile,dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate, and 2-carbamoyl azaisobutyronitrile;and redox systems as combinations of a radical emulsifier containing aradical emulsifying compound having a peroxide group, sodium hydrogensulfite, and a reducing agent such as ferrous sulfate.

Examples of molecular weight regulators that can be used include thefollowing: mercaptans such as n-hexyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan,n-dodecyl mercaptan, t-dodecyl mercaptan, n-hexadecyl mercaptan,n-tetradecyl mercaptan, t-tetradecyl mercaptan, and thioglycolic acid;xanthogen disulfides such as dimethylxanthogen disulfide,diethylxanthogen disulfide, and diisopropylxanthogen disulfide; thiuramdisulfides such as tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuramdisulfide, and tetrabutylthiuram disulfide; halogenated hydrocarbonssuch as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, andethylene bromide; hydrocarbons such as pentaphenylethane andα-methylstyrene dimer; and acrolein, methacrolein, allyl alcohol,2-ethylhexyl thioglycolate, terpinolene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene,dipentene, and 1,1-diphenylethylene. One or more of such molecularweight regulators can be used.

Examples of emulsifiers that can be used include the following: anionicsurfactants such as alkyl sulfate salts and alkylbenzene sulfonatesalts; nonionic surfactants such as alkyl esters of polyethylene glycol,alkyl ethers of polyethylene glycol, and alkyl phenyl ethers ofpolyethylene glycol; reactive emulsifiers that contain a hydrophilicgroup, a hydrophobic group, and a radical-reactive group; and polymericemulsifiers obtained by introducing a hydrophilic group into polymerssuch as vinyl polymers and polyesters. One or more of such emulsifierscan be used. Hydrophilic groups are atomic groups that have highaffinity for water and include nitro, hydroxy, amino, carboxy, andsulfonic acid, among others. Hydrophobic groups are atomic groups thathave lower affinity for water than hydrophilic ones and include linearor branched alkyl, alicyclic, aromatic, alkyl silyl, and perfluoroalkyl,among others.

Then in the presence of the obtained core particle (core portion), themonomer for the shell portion is polymerized. More specifically, themonomer for the shell portion is polymerized using the core particle asthe seed particle, forming a core-shell polymer particle. This can bedone by, for example, adding the monomer for the shell portion or itspre-emulsion dropwise to an aqueous dispersion of the core particle allat once, intermittently, or continuously. The amount of the coreparticle is preferably in the range of 25 to 250 parts by mass based on100 parts by mass of the monomer for the shell portion. Agents such aspolymerization initiators, molecular weight regulators, and emulsifierscan be used during the polymerization process, and examples of agentsthat can be used in each category are similar to those that can be usedduring the production of the core particle. Examples of conditions suchas the polymerization period are also similar to those for theproduction of the core particle.

The emulsifier content of the ink composition according to thisembodiment containing the polymer particle is preferably 0.01% by massor less; this reduces the aggregation of ink components at theinterfaces around the ink (e.g., the gas-liquid interface between theair and the ink and the solid-liquid interface the ink and any memberthat touches the ink, such as the container of the ink), ensuringexcellent storage stability of the ink.

When the emulsifier content of the ink composition according to thisembodiment containing the polymer particle is 0.01% by mass or less,furthermore, the ink has both excellent foaming and anti-foamingproperties and is suitable for use with an ink container that has aninlet opening through which the container can be filled with ink. Theink container that has an inlet port through which the container can befilled with ink is herein defined as an ink container that has adetachable or closable inlet opening. Although such a container allowsthe user to inject ink with ease, it also often causes ink to foam whilebeing injected. The area of such an inlet opening is preferably 20 mm²or more; this makes it easy to fill the container with ink. Examples ofpublications that disclose such an ink container includeJP-A-2005-219483 and JP-A-2012-51309.

Various methods are available to limit the emulsion content of the inkcomposition for ink jet recording to 0.01% by mass or less, such asmultiple emulsion polymerization (e.g., two-step emulsionpolymerization). The following describes an example of a multipleemulsion polymerization process that can be used.

First, the shell portion is synthesized. More specifically, apre-emulsion that contains a hydrophilic monomer such as those listedabove is prepared using a reactive emulsifier, and this pre-emulsion isadded dropwise to an aqueous medium along with a polymerizationinitiator. Then polymerization reaction is initiated to synthesize theshell portion.

Subsequently, the core portion is formed by polymerization using theshell portion as the site of polymerization, synthesizing the polymerparticle used in this embodiment. More specifically, a monomer mixturethat contains a hydrophobic monomer such as those listed above is addeddropwise to the aqueous dispersion medium containing the shell portion,and the monomer is polymerized to form the core portion which completesthe polymer particle. The use of the shell portion as the site ofpolymerization eliminates the need for adding an emulsifier to themonomer mixture and thus allows the mixture to be added in the form ofmonomer oil droplets. Such a multiple emulsion polymerization process,in which the shell portion is synthesized using a reactive emulsifierand the core portion can be synthesized without using emulsifiers, is aneasy way to limit the emulsifier content of the ink composition to 0.01%by mass or less.

Even when a large amount of emulsifier is used to synthesize the polymerparticle, it is possible to limit the emulsifier content of the inkcomposition to 0.01% by mass or less by removing the excess of theemulsifier after the synthesis of the polymer particle.

Finally, the dispersion is neutralized with a base such as sodiumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or ammonia until the pH is in the rangeof 8 to 8.5. The neutralized dispersion may be filtered if necessary. Inthis way, a dispersion that contains a core-shell polymer particle isobtained.

1.2. Additives 1.2.1. Coloring Material

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain a coloring material selected from a pigment or a dye.

I. Pigment

Pigments, a category of coloring materials, are insoluble or sparinglysoluble in water, and they are unlikely to fade even when exposed toexternal stimuli such as light and gases. Recordings made using pigmentinks therefore have good resistance to water, gases, and light and goodstorage stability. Both inorganic and organic pigments can be used. Inparticular, it is preferred to use at least carbon black, which is akind of inorganic pigment, or an organic pigment since these pigmentshave good color developability and their low specific gravity makes themunlikely to settle when dispersed.

Examples of suitable inorganic pigments include, but are not limited to,carbon black, iron oxide, and titanium oxide.

Examples of suitable carbon blacks include, but are not limited to,furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, and channel black (C.I.Pigment Black 7). Examples of commercially available carbon blacksinclude the following: No. 2300, 900, MCF88, No. 20B, No. 33, No. 40,No. 45, No. 52, MA7, MA8, MA77, MA100, and No. 2200B (trade names,Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation); COLOUR BLACK FW 1, FW 2, FW 2V, FW 18,FW 200, S 150, S 160, and S 170, PRINTEX 35, U, V, and 140 U, andSPECIAL BLACK 6, 5, 4A, 4, and 250 (trade names, Degussa AG); ConductexSC and Raven 1255, 5750, 5250, 5000, 3500, 1255, and 700 (trade names,Columbian Carbon Japan Ltd. or Columbian Chemicals); REGAL 400R, 330R,and 660R, MOGUL L, MONARCH 700, 800, 880, 900, 1000, 1100, 1300, and1400, and ELFTEX 12 (trade names, Cabot Corporation).

Examples of suitable organic pigments include, but are not limited to,quinacridone pigments, quinacridone quinone pigments, dioxazinepigments, phthalocyanine pigments, anthrapyrimidine pigments,anthanthrone pigments, indanthrone pigments, flavanthrone pigments,perylene pigments, diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments, perinone pigments,quinophthalone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, thioindigo pigments,benzimidazolone pigments, isoindolinone pigments, azomethine pigments,and azo pigments. Specific examples of suitable organic pigments includethe following.

Examples of pigments for cyan inks include C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3,15, 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:6, 15:34, 16, 18, 22, 60, 65, and 66 andC.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60.

Examples of pigments for magenta inks include C.I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30,31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48 (Ca), 48 (Mn), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 88, 112,114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 149, 150, 166, 168, 170, 171, 175, 176, 177,178, 179, 184, 185, 187, 202, 209, 219, 224, 245, 254, and 264 and C.I.Pigment Violet 19, 23, 32, 33, 36, 38, 43, and 50.

Examples of pigments for yellow inks include C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 53, 55, 65,73, 74, 75, 81, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114,117, 120, 124, 128, 129, 133, 138, 139, 147, 151, 153, 154, 155, 167,172, 180, 185, and 213.

As for inks of other colors such as green or orange inks, well-known andcommonly used pigments for such inks can be used.

It is possible to use one or a combination of two or more pigments.

II. Dye

Examples of dyes that can be used as coloring material include, but arenot limited to, acid dyes, direct dyes, reactive dyes, and basic dyes.Specific examples of suitable dyes include C.I. Acid Yellow 17, 23, 42,44, 79, and 142, C.I. Acid Red 52, 80, 82, 249, 254, and 289, C.I. AcidBlue 9, 45, and 249, C.I. Acid Black 1, 2, 24, and 94, C.I. Food Black 1and 2, C.I. Direct Yellow 1, 12, 24, 33, 50, 55, 58, 86, 132, 142, 144,and 173, C.I. Direct Red 1, 4, 9, 80, 81, 225, and 227, C.I. Direct Blue1, 2, 15, 71, 86, 87, 98, 165, 199, and 202, C.I. Direct Black 19, 38,51, 71, 154, 168, 171, and 195, C.I. Reactive Red 14, 32, 55, 79, and249, and C.I. Reactive Black 3, 4, and 35. It is possible to use one ora combination of two or more dyes.

The coloring material content of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment is preferably in the range of 1%to 7% by mass based on the total mass (100% by mass) of the ink.

1.2.2. Water-Soluble Solvent

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain a water-soluble solvent. Alkanediols, glycols, and glycolethers are preferred for use as such a water-soluble solvent because oftheir boiling point, vapor pressure at the heating temperature, andsafety.

Examples of suitable alkanediols include, but are not limited to,1,2-hexanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and1,7-heptanediol.

Examples of suitable glycols include, but are not limited to, ethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, and diethylene glycol.

Examples of suitable glycol ethers include, but are not limited to,polyalkylene glycols such as diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, anddibutylene glycol. Polyalkylene glycols include alkylene glycolmonoethers, such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycolmonoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, ethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycolmonophenyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycolmonoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycoldimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycolmonobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, anddipropylene glycol monoethyl ether. Polyalkylene glycols also includealkylene glycol diethers, such as ethylene glycol dimethyl ether,ethylene glycol diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethyleneglycol dibutyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethyleneglycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycol dibutyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol diethyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol dibutyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycoldiethyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, and dipropylene glycoldiethyl ether.

The water-soluble solvent content of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment is preferably in the range of 1%to 30% by mass based on the total mass (100% by mass) of the ink.

1.2.3. Aprotic Polar Solvent

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain an aprotic polar solvent. An aprotic polar solvent makes thepolymer particle contained in the ink dissolve when the ink is heated,effectively improving the fixation of the image to the recording medium.

It is preferred to use one or more aprotic polar solvents including, butnot limited to, pyrrolidones, lactones, sulfoxides, imidazolidinones,pyrrolidinones, sulfolanes, urea derivatives, dialkylamides, cyclicethers, and amide ethers. Specific examples of suitable pyrrolidonesinclude 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, andN-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone. Specific examples of suitable lactones includeγ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, and ε-caprolactone. Specific examplesof suitable sulfoxides include dimethyl sulfoxide and tetramethylenesulfoxide. Specific examples of suitable imidazolidinones include1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. Specific examples of suitablepyrrolidinones include 2-pyrrolidinone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, andN-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone. Specific examples of suitable sulfolanesinclude sulfolane and dimethyl sulfolane. Specific examples of suitableurea derivatives include dimethylurea and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylurea.Specific examples of suitable dialkylamides include dimethylformamideand dimethylacetamide. Specific examples of suitable cyclic ethersinclude 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran.

As for amide ethers, suitable ones include solvents represented bygeneral formula (1).

In formula (1), R¹ is preferably an alkyl group that contains 1 to 4carbon atoms. The alkyl group that contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms includeslinear and branched alkyl groups and can be a methyl group, an ethylgroup, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, anisobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, or a tert-butyl group, for example.Solvents represented by formula (1) give the ink composition adequatepseudoplasticity, thereby ensuring good discharge stability of the ink,when their R¹ is an alkyl group that contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Thesolvents of formula (1) with an alkyl group that contains 1 to 4 carbonatoms in R¹ are also preferred because they are particularly goodsolvents for resins.

In particular, pyrrolidones, pyrrolidinones, lactones, sulfoxides, andamide ethers provide excellent fixation of the image to the recordingmedium. It is therefore preferred to use one or more selected from suchclasses of aprotic polar solvents.

Aprotic polar solvents having a boiling point of 200° C. to 260° C.,both inclusive, are preferred.

The aprotic polar solvent content of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment is preferably in the range of 3%to 30% by mass, more preferably 8% to 20% by mass, based on the totalmass (100% by mass) of the ink.

1.2.4. Surfactant

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain a surfactant. Examples of suitable surfactants include, butare not limited to, nonionic surfactants. A nonionic surfactant makesthe ink spread evenly on a recording medium. Ink jet recording using anink that contains a nonionic surfactant therefore provideshigh-definition images with little ink bleed. Examples of such nonionicsurfactants include, but are not limited to, acetylene glycolsurfactants, silicone surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers,polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, polycyclic phenyl ethers, sorbitanderivatives, and fluorosurfactants. It is possible to use one or moreselected from such classes of nonionic surfactants.

Surfactants can be used in any amount in the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment as long as the surfactant contentis 1.5% by mass or less based on the total mass (100% by mass) of theink.

1.2.5. Slipping Agent

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain a slipping agent. Adding a slipping agent leads to enhancedabrasion resistance of the image on a recording medium in some cases.

Examples of suitable slipping agents include, but are not limited to,binder resins and waxes such as paraffin wax and polyolefin waxes.

I. Binder Resin

In an ink jet recording process, a binder resin forms a resin coatingwhile the recording medium is heated, and this coating firmly fixes theink to the recording medium and enhances the abrasion resistance of therecording. Thermoplastic resins are therefore preferred for use as abinder resin. As a result of this effect, recordings made using inksthat contain binder resins are particularly resistant to abrasion onrecording media that absorb little or no ink.

A binder resin forms an emulsion while in the ink. Adding a binder resinin the form of an emulsion to the ink is an easy way to adjust theviscosity of the ink to within the range suitable for ink jet recording,and such a binder resin also imparts excellent storage stability anddischarge stability to the ink.

The term discharge stability, as used herein, refers to the ability ofink to be discharged from nozzles always in uniform droplets withoutclogging the nozzles.

Examples of suitable binder resins include, but are not limited to,homopolymers or copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylates,acrylonitrile, cyanoacrylates, acrylamides, olefins, styrene, vinylacetate, vinyl chloride, vinyl alcohol, vinyl ether, vinyl pyrrolidone,vinyl pyridine, vinyl carbazole, vinyl imidazole, and vinylidenechloride, fluorocarbon polymers, and natural resins. In particular, itis preferred to use at least a (meth)acrylic resin or astyrene-(meth)acrylic acid copolymer, more preferably at least anacrylic resin or a styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, even more preferablya styrene-acrylic acid copolymer. Such copolymers can be in any formsuch as a random copolymer, a block copolymer, an alternating copolymer,or a graft copolymer.

Binder resins obtained using known materials and production method andcommercially available ones can both be used. Examples of commerciallyavailable binder resins include, but are not limited to, MICROGEL E-1002and E-5002 (trade names, Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.), VONCOAT 4001 and 5454(trade names, DIC), SAE-1014 (trade name, Zeon Corporation), SAIVINOLSK-200 (trade name, SAIDEN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.), and JONCRYL7100, 390, 711, 511, 7001, 632, 741, 450, 840, 74J, HRC-1645J, 734, 852,7600, 775, 537J, 1535, PDX-7630A, 352J, 352D, PDX-7145, 538J, 7640,7641, 631, 790, 780, and 7610 (trade names, BASF).

Various methods are available to prepare such a binder resin. Examplesinclude the following preparation methods, and it is also possible touse two or more methods in combination if necessary: the monomer thatforms the intended resin is mixed with a polymerization catalyst(polymerization initiator) and a dispersant, followed by polymerization(emulsion polymerization); a resin that has a hydrophilic moiety isdissolved in a water-soluble organic solvent, the obtained solution ismixed in water, and the water-soluble organic solvent is removed bydistillation or any other method; the resin is dissolved in awater-insoluble organic solvent, and the obtained solution is mixed inan aqueous solution along with a dispersant.

Various dispersants can be used to disperse such a binder resin to forman emulsion. Examples include anionic surfactants such as sodiumdodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium lauryl phosphate, and ammoniumpolyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates and nonionic surfactants such aspolyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters,polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers. It is possible to use one or a combination of two or moreof such dispersants.

The average particle diameter of such a binder resin is preferably inthe range of 5 nm to 400 nm, more preferably 20 nm to 300 nm, so thatthe storage stability and the discharge stability of the ink areenhanced. The average particle diameter indicated herein is the valuemeasured by dynamic light scattering.

The binder resin content of the ink (based on the solid content) ispreferably in the range of 0.5% to 5% by mass, more preferably 0.5% to1.5% by mass, with respect to the total mass (100% by mass) of the ink.Enhanced abrasion resistance is provided when the binder resin contentis in this range.

II. Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax, when contained in the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to this embodiment, imparts slipping properties tothe recordings, making the ink particularly resistant to abrasion.Furthermore, paraffin wax is water-repellent and makes the recordingsresistant to water.

The term paraffin wax, as used herein, refers to the “petroleum wax,” ormore specifically a mixture of hydrocarbons including a linearparaffinic hydrocarbon (normal paraffin, the main component) containingabout 20 to 30 carbon atoms and small amounts of isoparaffins, eachhydrocarbon having a weight-average molecular weight on the order of 300to 500.

Adding paraffin wax in the form of an emulsion is an easy way to adjustthe viscosity of the ink to within the range suitable for ink jetrecording, and such a paraffin wax also imparts particularly goodstorage stability and discharge stability to the ink.

The melting point of such a paraffin wax is preferably 110° C. or lessso that a stronger coating is provided to the recordings and that theabrasion resistance of the recordings is also enhanced. It is alsopreferred that such a paraffin wax has a melting point of 60° C. or moreso that the ink does not turn sticky when the image is dried. Morepreferably, the melting point of such a paraffin wax is in the range of70° C. to 95° C. so that the discharge stability of the ink is enhanced.

The average particle diameter of such a paraffin wax is preferably inthe range of 5 nm to 400 nm, more preferably 50 nm to 200 nm, so that astable emulsion can be obtained and that the storage stability and thedischarge stability of the ink are enhanced. It is also possible to usea commercially available paraffin wax without modification. Examples ofcommercially available paraffin waxes include, but are not limited to,AQUACER 537 and 539 (trade names, BYK).

The paraffin wax content of the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to this embodiment (based on the solid content) is preferablyin the range of 0% to 1.5% by mass, more preferably 0.25% to 0.75% bymass, with respect to the total mass (100% by mass) of the ink.

III. Polyolefin Wax

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain a polyolefin wax, which provides particularly good abrasionresistance of the recordings. Examples of suitable polyolefin waxesinclude, but are not limited to, polyethylene wax and polypropylene wax,and polyethylene wax is preferred.

Polyethylene wax can be produced by, for example, polymerizing ethyleneor decomposing a polyethylene for general molding applications byheating to make fractions smaller in molecular weight. The obtainedpolyethylene wax is oxidized to have carboxy or hydroxy groups, and theoxidized substance is then emulsified using a surfactant. In this way,polyethylene wax is obtained in the form of a highly stable aqueousemulsion.

It is also possible to use a commercially available polyolefin waxwithout modification. Examples of commercially available polyethylenewaxes include, but are not limited to, NOPCOTE PEM-17 (trade name,SANNOPCO LIMITED), CHEMIPEARL W4005 (trade name, Mitsui Chemicals,Inc.), and AQUACER 515 and 593 (trade names, BYK).

The average particle diameter of such a polyolefin wax is preferably inthe range of 5 nm to 400 nm, more preferably 50 nm to 200 nm, so thatthe storage stability and the discharge stability of the ink areenhanced.

The polyolefin wax content of the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to this embodiment (based on the solid content) is preferablyin the range of 0% to 1.5% by mass, more preferably 0.25% to 0.75% bymass, with respect to the total mass (100% by mass) of the ink.

It is preferred to use at least a polyolefin wax or paraffin wax as aslipping agent because these waxes provide particularly good abrasionresistance of the recordings.

It is also possible that the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to this embodiment contains wax as a slipping agent other thanpolyolefin waxes or paraffin wax. Such a wax imparts slipping propertiesto the surface of the produced recordings, thereby making the recordingsmore resistant to abrasion. Waxes that form an emulsion while in the inkare preferred. Adding wax in the form of an emulsion in the ink is aneasy way to adjust the viscosity of the ink to within the range suitablefor ink jet recording, and such a wax also imparts particularly goodstorage stability and discharge stability to the ink.

1.2.6. Water

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan contain water. Especially when the ink is an aqueous ink, water isthe main medium in the ink and, in an ink jet recording process,evaporates and disperses in the air while the recording medium isheated.

It is possible to use various kinds of water that contain the leastpossible amount of ionic impurities, including purified water such asion-exchanged water, ultrafiltered water, reverse-osmosis-purifiedwater, and distilled water as well as ultrapure water. Sterilized waterobtained by techniques such as ultraviolet irradiation or the additionof hydrogen peroxide allows a pigment dispersion and inks that contain apigment dispersion to be stored for long periods of time without moldsor bacteria.

1.2.7. Other Components

In addition to the components described above, the ink composition forink jet recording according to this embodiment can contain componentssuch as additional organic solvents, pH-adjusting agents, preservativesor antimolds, antirusts, and chelating agents.

1.3. Method for Producing the Ink Composition for Ink Jet Recording

The ink composition for ink jet recording according to this embodimentcan be obtained by mixing, in no particular order, the components(materials) described above and then removing impurities by filtrationor any other technique as necessary. When the ink contains pigment, thepigment is preferably dispersed uniformly in a solvent before mixingbecause this makes the pigment easier to handle.

Examples of preferred methods for mixing the materials include addingthe materials sequentially to a container equipped with a stirringdevice, such as a mechanical stirrer or a magnetic stirrer, and mixingthem by stirring. Treatments such as filtration by centrifugation orthrough filters can be performed to purify the mixture as necessary.

2. INK JET RECORDING METHOD

An ink jet recording method according to this embodiment includes (a)discharging droplets of the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to the preceding embodiment from a recording head onto arecording medium and (b) heating the recording medium.

The ink jet recording method according to this embodiment allows forstable discharge of the ink because the ink contains the core-shellpolymer particle described above, which is unlikely to adhere to thenozzles of the recording head. Furthermore, heating the recording mediummakes the core-shell polymer particle break and form a coating on theimage recorded on the recording medium, thereby improving the abrasionresistance of the image.

2.1. Recording Medium

The ink composition for ink jet recording described above is suitablenot only for use with ink-absorbent recording media but also for ink jetrecording using a recording medium that absorbs little or no ink.

Examples of ink-absorbent recording media include, but are not limitedto, kinds of ink jet recording paper such as plain paper, bond paper,and glossy paper. Examples of recording media that absorb little inkinclude kinds of printing paper such as art paper, coated paper, andmatte paper. Examples of recording media that absorb no ink include, butare not limited to, plastic films not surface-treated for ink jetprinting (i.e., having no ink-absorbing layer) and sheets of paper or asimilar kind of substrate that has a plastic coating or is covered withan adhesive plastic film. Various materials can be used to make such aplastic coating, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethyleneterephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene,and polypropylene.

The recording media that absorb little or no ink are herein defined asrecording media that absorb 10 mL/m² or less of water in 30 msec^(1/2)from the time of contact as measured by the Bristow method. The Bristowmethod is the most common method for rapid measurement of the amount ofabsorption of liquid and is endorsed by Japan Technical Association ofthe Pulp and Paper Industry (JAPAN TAPPI). The details of the testmethod can be found in Test No. 51 of JAPAN TAPPI pulp and paper testingguidelines 2000, which specifies procedures for testing paper andcardboard for liquid absorbency by the Bristow method.

2.2. Ink Jet Recording Apparatus

It is efficient to perform the operations (a) and (b) with a singleapparatus. Thus, ink jet recording apparatuses that have a dischargemeans and a drying means are preferred.

A discharge means discharges, by the ink jet recording technology,droplets of the ink composition for ink jet recording onto the recordingmedium to record the image on the recording medium. Discharge means thatare based on well-known and commonly used technologies can be used,including an operation that uses vibration of piezoelectric elements todischarge droplets, i.e., a recording operation based on the use of ahead in which electrostrictive elements are mechanically deformed andform droplets of the ink, among others. Such a recording operationprovides excellent recording results.

The ink may be heated before being discharged by such a discharge means.Heated ink is preferred because it dries quickly on the recordingmedium. The temperature of such a heated ink can be in the range of 40°C. to 60° C., for example. Various methods can be used to heat the ink,and examples include heating the ink directly with a heating elementsuch as warm air or an IR heater or by heating the recording medium witha platen heater.

A drying means heats the recording medium after the image has been drawnby the ink, thereby drying the image. When a drying means heats therecording medium that holds the image, water and other components in theink on the recording medium rapidly evaporate and disperse in the air,and the core-shell polymer particle contained in the ink forms acoating. The dried ink is fixed (adheres) firmly to the recordingmedium, and a high-quality image with excellent abrasion resistance isobtained in a short period of time.

The phrase “heats the recording medium” means that the temperature ofthe recording medium is increased to a desired temperature; this actionis not limited to heating the recording medium directly.

Such a drying means can be applied along with a discharge means or aftera discharge means is applied. In other words, the recording medium maybe heated at any time, as long as it is heated at one or more of thefollowing time points: before recording, during recording, and after thecompletion of recording. In particular, heating the recording mediumbefore recording is preferred because this allows a high-quality imageto be formed with little bleed on the recording medium, especially whenthe recording medium absorbs little or no ink. The temperature of theheated recording medium can be in the range of 80° C. to 120° C., forexample.

Examples of ways to apply a drying means include, but are not limitedto, the use of a platen heater or a warm-air mechanism provided to anink jet recording apparatus or an incubator or any other dryingmechanism connected to an ink jet recording apparatus.

When a drying means is applied, the surface of the recording medium thattouches the ink can be at any temperature; the appropriate temperaturevaries depending on the materials used in the recording medium.

3. EXAMPLES

The following illustrates some examples and comparative examples of theinvention to describe some aspects of the invention in more detail.These examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention. The units of measurement “parts” and “%” in the followingexamples and comparative examples are all on a mass basis unlessotherwise specified.

3.1. Example 1 3.1.1. Production of an Aqueous Dispersion of aCore-Shell Polymer Particle

One hundred (100) parts of ion-exchanged water was put into a reactionvessel equipped with a dripper, a thermometer, a water-cooled refluxcondenser, and a stirrer. While stirring, 0.2 parts of potassiumpersulfate as a polymerization initiator was added in a nitrogenatmosphere at 70° C. A monomer solution was prepared by mixing 7 partsof ion-exchange water with 0.05 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 22 partsof styrene, 50 parts of n-butyl acrylate, and 0.02 parts of t-dodecylmercaptan. This monomer solution was added dropwise to the reactionvessel at 70° C., forming a core particle through reaction. After 2parts of 10% ammonium persulfate solution was added under stirring,another reaction solution was prepared by mixing 30 parts ofion-exchanged water, 0.2 parts of potassium lauryl sulfate, 17 parts ofmethyl acrylate, 20 parts of ethyl acrylate, 30 parts of methylmethacrylate, 5 parts of acrylic acid, and 0.5 parts of t-dodecylmercaptan. This reaction solution was added dropwise to the reactionvessel at 70° C. while stirring to initiate polymerization reaction.After the completion of polymerization, sodium hydroxide was added toadjust the pH to within the range of 8 to 8.5, and the neutralizeddispersion was filtered through a 0.3-μm filter. In this way, an aqueousdispersion of a core-shell polymer particle was obtained.

The glass transition temperature T_(g) (° C.) of the polymers thatformed the core portion and the shell portion of this core-shell polymerparticle was determined using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)that satisfied the requirements set forth in JIS K7121, or morespecifically DSC6220 differential scanning calorimeter manufactured bySeiko Instruments Inc.

Furthermore, the particle diameter φ (nm) of the core-shell polymerparticle was determined using Microtrac UPA (Nikkiso Co., Ltd.).

Then about 10 g of the core-shell polymer particle was weighed on aTeflon dish and dried at 120° C. for 1 hour. The obtained film wasimmersed in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 20° C. for 24 hours, and thesolution was filtered through a 100-mesh filter. After the film wasdried at 20° C. for another 24 hours, the THF gel fraction (%) wasdetermined using the following equation:THF gel fraction (%)=(the mass after the second drying period/theinitial mass)×100.

3.1.2. Preparation of an Ink Composition

I. Preparation of a Pigment Dispersion

A reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a reflux tube,and a dripping funnel was purged with nitrogen, 20 parts of benzylmethacrylate, 5 parts of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, 15 parts of butylmethacrylate, 10 parts of lauryl methacrylate, 2 parts of methacrylicacid, and 0.3 parts of t-dodecyl mercaptan were added, and the mixturewas heated to 70° C. Separately prepared 150 parts of benzylmethacrylate, 15 parts of acrylic acid, 50 parts of butyl methacrylate,1 part of t-dodecyl mercaptan, 20 parts of methyl ethyl ketone, and 1part of azobisisobutyronitrile were put into the dripping funnel. Whilethe content of the dripping funnel was added dropwise to the reactionvessel over 4 hours, polymerization reaction was allowed to proceed toform a dispersed polymer. Methyl ethyl ketone was then added to thereaction vessel to make a solution containing 40% dispersed polymer.

A portion of the dispersed polymer was analyzed by gel permeationchromatography (GPC) using L7100 system manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.with THF as solvent, and the polymer was found to have apolystyrene-equivalent molecular weight of 50000. The molecular weightdispersity (M_(w)/M_(n)) was 3.1.

Then 40 parts of the polymer dispersion was mixed with 30 parts ofCHROMOFINE BLUE C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3 (trade name, a cyan pigmentavailable from Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.), 100parts of 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and 30 parts ofmethyl ethyl ketone. The obtained mixture was homogenized by allowingthe mixture to pass through Ultimizer 25005 (Sugino Machine Limited)eight times. Then 300 parts of ion-exchanged water was added, all methylethyl ketone and a portion of water were distilled away using a rotaryevaporator, and 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide was added to the residue toadjust the pH to 9. The cyan pigment was further dispersed while itsvolume-average particle diameter was measured using a particle sizeanalyzer until the volume-average particle diameter was 100 nm, and thenthe dispersion was filtered through a 3-μm membrane filter. In this way,a pigment dispersion with 20% solid content (the dispersed polymer andpigment) was obtained.

II. Preparation of an Ink Composition

The pigment dispersion and the core-shell polymer particle dispersionwere put into a vessel so that the pigment and the solid derived fromthe polymer particle dispersion constituted 2 parts by mass and 1 partby mass, respectively. Then 6 parts by mass of 1,2-hexanediol, 19 partsby mass of 2-pyrrolidinone, 10 parts by mass of propylene glycol, 1 partby mass of a surfactant (BYK-348, trade name, manufactured by BYK), andpurified water were added to make a total of 100 parts by mass. Thecomponents were mixed and stirred using a magnetic stirrer for 2 hours,and the obtained dispersion was filtered through a 5-μm PTFE membranefilter. In this way, an ink composition was obtained.

3.1.3. Evaluation Methods

I. Abrasion Resistance

PX-G930 printer (Seiko Epson Corporation) was modified so that duringink jet recording the recording medium could be heated in a controlledmanner. The ink cartridge of this printer was filled with the inkcomposition prepared in the preceding section. Then the ink wasdischarged onto a sheet of A4-size PVC-coated paper with a resolution of720 dpi (vertical) by 720 dpi (horizontal) and dried to print afull-page solid image in cyan as a sample. The ink was dried by heatingthe recording medium at 100° C. during the ink jet recording operation.The printed sample was left at room temperature for 16 hours.

The sample was then tested using AB-301 color fastness rubbing tester(Tester Sangyo Co., Ltd.), subjected to 50 cycles of to-and-fro rubbingunder a load of 500 g (JIS P8136). The test was performed using aCanaquim No. 3 cotton shirting cloth under both dry and wet conditions.With the test specimen measuring 2 cm wide and a rubbing stroke of 12cm, the condition of the specimen was evaluated on an 11-point scalefrom 0 to 10. The evaluation criteria were as follows. The results aresummarized in Table 1.

10: There was no damaged or detached area.

9: Less than 1% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

8: 1% to less than 3% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

7: 3% to less than 5% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

6: 5% to less than 10% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

5: 10% to less than 20% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

4: 20% to less than 40% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

3: 40% to less than 60% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

2: 60% to less than 80% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

1: 80% to less than 100% of the stroke area was damaged or detached.

0: The entire stroke area was detached.

II. Discharge Stability

The discharge stability of the ink composition was evaluated by applyingthe ink in the same way as in the preparation of the printed sample, incontinuous printing at a temperature of 40° C. and a relative humidityof 20%. The term discharge stability refers to the ability of ink to bedischarged from nozzles always in uniform droplets without clogging thenozzles. The evaluation criteria were as follows. The results aresummarized in Table 1.

A: Generally no problems. Defects such as failed discharge and pooralignment were occasionally observed, but the defects were resolvedduring the discharge operation.

B: Defects such as failed discharge and poor alignment occasionallyoccurred and were not resolved during the discharge operation.Maintenance restored the normal condition.

C: Defects such as failed discharge and poor alignment occasionallyoccurred and the ink was not able to be discharged normally. Maintenancedid not restore the discharge function either.

3.2. Examples 2 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4

An ink composition was prepared in the same way as Example 1, exceptthat the polymer particle dispersion was produced in accordance with adifferent monomer composition of the core portion and the shell portionas specified in Table 1. The prepared ink composition was evaluated inthe same way as Example 1.

3.3. Evaluation Results

Table 1 summarizes the monomer composition of the core portion and theshell portion and the physical properties of the polymer particle(particle diameter φ, the core-to-shell mass ratio, T_(g) of the coreportion and the shell portion, and THF gel fraction) for each exampleand comparative example.

TABLE 1 Tg Monomer (° C.) Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Core Styrene 80 22 22 22 20 2010 20 30 portion n-Butyl acrylate −55 50 50 50 20 20 50 100 150 Lauryl−65 0 0 0 10 10 0 0 0 methacrylate Acrylic acid 106 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Shell Styrene 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 portion n-Butyl acrylate −55 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 Methyl acrylate 10 17 12 10.5 22.5 17 10 10 10 Ethyl acrylate −2420 20 30 30 20 10 10 10 Methyl 105 30 30 45 45 30 35 35 35 methacrylateButyl acrylate −55 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 Acrylic acid 106 5 5 7.5 0 5 5 5 5Methacrylic acid 227 0 0 0 7.5 0 0 0 0 Hexamethylene — 0 5 15 0 0 0 0 0dimethacrylate Physical Particle diameter φ (nm) 35 67 60 47 78 60 10980 properties Amount of the core (% 50 50 40 32 41 48 65 73 by mass)Amount of the shell (% 50 50 60 68 59 52 35 27 by mass) Core portionT_(g) (° C.) −10 −10 −10 −2 −2 −20 −20 −20 Shell portion T_(g) (° C.) 3335 45 40 33 38 38 38 Shell T_(g) − Core T_(g) 43 45 55 42 35 55 55 55Core-to-shell mass ratio 1 1 0.67 0.48 0.69 0.92 1.85 2.77 (c/s) (c/s)/φ0.03 0.015 0.011 0.01 0.013 0.015 0.017 0.03 THF gel fraction (%) 0 5 100 0 0 0 0 Evaluations Discharge stability A A B A A A A B Abrasionresistance (dry 10 9 9 9 10 10 10 9 friction) Abrasion resistance 10 8 88 10 10 9 8 (wet friction) Tg Example Example Comparative ComparativeComparative Comparative Monomer (° C.) Example 9 10 11 Example 1 Example2 Example 3 Example 4 Core Styrene 80 45 22 22 32 18 — 22 portionn-Butyl acrylate −55 225 50 50 40 50 — 50 Lauryl −65 0 0 0 0 0 — 0methacrylate Acrylic acid 106 0 0 0 0 5 — 0 Shell Styrene 80 0 0 0 32 —0 32 portion n-Butyl acrylate −55 0 0 0 0 — 0 35 Methyl acrylate 10 1017 17 35 — 17 0 Ethyl acrylate −24 10 20 20 0 — 20 0 Methyl 105 35 30 300 — 30 0 methacrylate Butyl acrylate −55 5 0 0 0 — 0 0 Acrylic acid 1060 5 5 5 — 5 5 Methacrylic acid 227 5 0 0 0 — 0 0 Hexamethylene — 0 0 0 0— 0 0 dimethacrylate Physical Particle diameter φ (nm) 110 110 510 90 9095 55 properties Amount of the core (% 81 50 50 50 100 0 50 by mass)Amount of the shell (% 19 50 50 50 0 100 50 by mass) Core portion T_(g)(° C.) −20 −10 −10 4 −8 — −10 Shell portion T_(g) (° C.) 38 33 33 34 —33 11 Shell T_(g) − Core T_(g) 55 43 43 30 — — 22 Core-to-shell massratio 4.15 1 1 1 — — 1 (c/s) (c/s)/φ 0.038 0.009 0.002 0.011 — — 0.018THF gel fraction (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Evaluations Discharge stability B B BB A C A Abrasion resistance (dry 8 8 8 6 4 6 6 friction) Abrasionresistance 7 7 7 3 3 4 5 (wet friction)

The ink compositions for ink jet recording according to Examples 1 to 11were able to be discharged from nozzles of a recording head in a stablemanner, and the images recorded using these inks on a recording mediumwere resistant to abrasion.

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Comparative Example 1failed to provide satisfactory abrasion resistance because of thespecified polymer particle; the core portion of the polymer particle hada T_(g) exceeding 0° C.

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Comparative Example 2failed to provide satisfactory abrasion resistance because of thespecified monomer composition of the polymer particle; the polymerparticle was not a core-shell particle.

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Comparative Example 3 wasnot able to be discharged in a stable manner and failed to providesatisfactory abrasion resistance because of the specified monomercomposition of the polymer particle; the polymer particle was not acore-shell particle.

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Comparative Example 4failed to provide satisfactory abrasion resistance because of thespecified polymer particle; the difference between the T_(g) of the coreportion of the polymer particle and that of the shell portion was lessthan 30° C.

3.4. Examples 12 to 20 and Comparative Example 5 3.4.1. Production of anAqueous Dispersion of a Core-Shell Polymer Particle and Preparation ofan Ink Composition

A polymer particle dispersion was produced and an ink composition wasprepared in the same way as Example 1, except that the polymer particledispersion was produced in accordance with a different monomercomposition of the core portion and the shell portion as specified inTable 2. Example 12 and Comparative Example 5 are equivalent to Example1 and Comparative Example 1, respectively.

3.4.2. Evaluation Methods

I. Abrasion Resistance

The abrasion resistance of the ink composition was evaluated in the sameway as Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 2.

II. Discharge Stability in Continuous Printing

The discharge stability of the ink composition in continuous printingwas evaluated in the same way as Example 1. The results are summarizedin Table 2.

III. Discharge Stability in Intermittent Printing

The discharge stability of the ink composition was evaluated inintermittent printing at a temperature of 40° C. and a relative humidityof 20% using the same printer as in Example 1. Prior to the test it wasconfirmed that the ink could be normally discharged from all nozzles.After a 1-minute pause at a temperature of 40° C. and a relativehumidity of 20%, one drop of the ink was discharged and observed underan optical microscope for displacement of the dot from its intendedposition. The evaluation criteria were as follows. The results aresummarized in Table 2.

A: The dot was displaced by 10 μm or less.

B: The dot was displaced by more than 10 μm to 20 μm.

C: The dot was displaced by more than 20 μm.

3.5. Evaluation Results

Table 2 summarizes the monomer composition of the core portion and theshell portion and the physical properties of the polymer particle(particle diameter φ, the core-to-shell mass ratio, T_(g) of the coreportion and the shell portion, and THF gel fraction) for Examples 12 to20 and Comparative Example 5.

TABLE 2 Tg Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam-Comparative Monomer (° C.) ple 12 ple 13 ple 14 ple 15 ple 16 ple 17 ple18 ple 19 ple 20 Example 5 Core portion Styrene 80 22 22 22 22 22 15 1510 20 32 n-Butyl acrylate −55 50 50 50 50 50 57 57 38 80 40 Laurylmethacrylate −65 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acrylic acid 106 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 Shell portion Styrene 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 Methyl acrylate 10 17 1717 17 17 17 17 22 10 35 Ethyl acrylate −24 20 10 10 10 10 15 15 25 10 0Methyl methacrylate 105 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 20 0 Butyl acrylate −550 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 Acrylic acid 106 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 5 Methacrylicacid 227 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 0 Methoxy PEG 400 −71 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0acrylate (*1) Methoxy TEG acrylate (*2) −50 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MethoxyPEG 400 −60 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 methacrylate (*3) Methoxy PEG 1000 −30 00 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 methacrylate (*4) Lauryl acrylate −3 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 00 Stearyl acrylate −10 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 Cetyl acrylate 34 0 0 0 0 5 00 0 0 0 Isobornyl methacrylate 94 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 Physical Particlediameter φ (nm) 35 30 30 32 32 28 28 28 28 90 properties Amount of thecore (% by mass) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 32 65 50 Amount of the shell (% bymass) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 68 35 50 Core portion T_(g) (° C.) −10 −10−10 −10 −10 −27 −27 −27 −28 4 Shell portion T_(g) (° C.) 33 52 46 45 5048 48 34 59 34 Shell T_(g) − Core T_(g) 43 62 56 55 60 75 75 61 87 30Core-to-shell mass ratio (c/s) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2.1 0.54 1 (c/s)/φ 0.030.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.08 0.02 0.011 THF gel fraction (%) 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 Evaluations Discharge stability (continuous A A B A A A AA A B printing) Discharge stability (intermittent B A A A A A A A A Cprinting) Abrasion resistance (dry friction) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 106 Abrasion resistance (wet friction) 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 3 (*1)Methoxy polyethylene glycol #400 acrylate (average degree ofpolymerization of the polyethylene glycol chain n = 9) (*2) Methoxytriethylene glycol acrylate (*3) Methoxy polyethylene glycol #400methacrylate (average degree of polymerization of the polyethyleneglycol chain n = 9) (*4) Methoxy polyethylene glycol #1000 acrylate(average degree of polymerization of the polyethylene glycol chain n =23)

The ink compositions for ink jet recording according to Examples 13 to20 were able to be discharged from nozzles of a recording head in astable manner both in continuous printing and intermittent printing, andthe images recorded using these inks on a recording medium wereresistant to abrasion.

Example 12 was found inferior to Examples 13 to 20 in intermittentprinting.

The ink composition for ink jet recording of Comparative Example 5failed to provide satisfactory abrasion resistance because of thespecified polymer particle; the core portion of the polymer particlecontained in it had a T_(g) exceeding 0° C.

3.6. Examples 21 to 32 3.6.1. Production of an Aqueous Dispersion of aCore-Shell Polymer Particle and Preparation of an Ink Composition

The ink compositions specified in Table 3 (Examples 21 to 31) wereprepared in the same way as Example 1, except that the polymer particlesaccording to Examples 1 to 11 were synthesized by the method describedbelow. Example 32 is equivalent to Example 5.

The core-shell polymer particle dispersion used in Example 21 wasproduced in the following way. One hundred (100) parts of ion-exchangedwater was put into a reaction vessel equipped with a dripper, athermometer, a water-cooled reflux condenser, and a stirrer, and thevessel was purged with nitrogen. A monomer solution containing 0.2 partsof potassium persulfate, 17 parts of methyl acrylate, 20 parts of ethylacrylate, 30 parts of methyl methacrylate, and 5 parts of acrylic acidwas added dropwise to the vessel at 70° C. while stirring, polymerizingthe monomers into the shell portion. Sodium hydroxide was added toadjust the pH to within the range of 8 to 8.5. Then the core portion wasformed by polymerization with the shell portion as the site of reaction.Another monomer solution, which contained 0.2 parts of potassiumpersulfate, 22 parts of styrene, and 50 parts of n-butyl acrylate, wasadded dropwise to the vessel at 70° C., polymerizing the monomers. Inthis way, the core-shell polymer particle aqueous dispersion used inExample 21 was obtained.

The core-shell polymer particle aqueous dispersions used in Examples 22to 31 were produced in the same way as that for Example 21, except thata different monomer composition of the core portion and the shellportion was used as specified in Table 3.

3.6.2. Evaluation Methods

I. Abrasion Resistance

The abrasion resistance of the ink composition was evaluated in the sameway as Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 3.

II. Discharge Stability in Continuous Printing

The discharge stability of the ink composition in continuous printingwas evaluated in the same way as Example 1. The results are summarizedin Table 3.

III. Storage Stability

Fifty (50) grams of the ink was put into a 110-cc sample bottle, and thebottle was capped and left at 40° C. for 24 hours. Then 1 g of the inkwas filtered through a 10 μm filter, and the insoluble particles(aggregates) on the filter was counted under an optical microscope. Theresults are summarized in Table 3.

3.7. Evaluation Results

Table 3 summarizes the monomer composition of the core portion and theshell portion and the physical properties of the polymer particle(particle diameter φ, the core-to-shell mass ratio, T_(g) of the coreportion and the shell portion, and THF gel fraction) for Examples 21 to32.

TABLE 3 Tg Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam-Exam- Exam- Monomer (° C.) ple 21 ple 22 ple 23 ple 24 ple 25 ple 26 ple27 ple 28 ple 29 ple 30 ple 31 ple 32 Core Styrene 80 22 22 22 20 20 1020 30 45 22 22 20 portion n-Butyl acrylate −55 50 50 50 20 20 50 100 150225 50 50 20 Lauryl −65 0 0 0 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 methacrylate Acrylicacid 106 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shell Styrene 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 portion n-Butyl acrylate −55 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Methyl acrylate10 17 12 10.5 22.5 17 10 10 10 10 17 17 17 Ethyl acrylate −24 20 20 3030 20 10 10 10 10 20 20 20 Methyl 105 30 30 45 45 30 35 35 35 35 30 3030 methacrylate Butyl acrylate −55 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 Acrylic acid106 5 5 7.5 0 5 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 Methacrylic acid 227 0 0 0 7.5 0 0 0 0 5 00 0 Hexamethylene — 0 5 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 dimethacrylate PhysicalParticle diameter φ (nm) 35 67 60 47 78 60 109 80 110 110 510 78 prop-Amount of the core 50 50 40 32 41 48 65 73 81 50 50 41 erties (% bymass) Amount of the shell 50 50 60 68 59 52 35 27 19 50 50 59 (% bymass) Core portion T_(g) (° C.) −10 −10 −10 −2 −2 −20 −20 −20 −20 −10−10 −2 Shell portion T_(g) (° C.) 33 35 45 40 33 38 38 38 38 33 33 33Shell T_(g) − Core T_(g) 43 45 55 42 35 55 55 55 55 43 43 35Core-to-shell mass 1 1 0.67 0.48 0.69 0.92 1.85 2.77 4.15 1 1 0.69 ratio(c/s) (c/s)/φ 0.03 0.015 0.011 0.01 0.013 0.015 0.017 0.03 0.038 0.0090.002 0.013 THF gel fraction (%) 0 5 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eval-Discharge stability A A B A A A A B B B B A uations Abrasion resistance(dry 10 9 9 9 10 10 10 9 8 8 8 10 friction) Abrasion resistance (wet 108 8 8 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 10 friction) Storage stability 19 18 13 6 6 8 1621 20 23 32 55

The ink compositions for ink jet recording according to Examples 21 to31 had higher storage stability than that of Example 32.

3.8. Examples 33 to 42 3.8.1. Production of an Aqueous Dispersion of aCore-Shell Polymer Particle and Preparation of an Ink Composition

The ink compositions specified in Table 4 (Examples 33 to 41) wereprepared in the same way as Example 1, except that the polymer particlesaccording to Examples 12 to 20 were synthesized by the method describedbelow. Example 42 is equivalent to Example 15.

The core-shell polymer particle dispersion used in Example 33 wasproduced in the following way. One hundred (100) parts of ion-exchangedwater was put into a reaction vessel equipped with a dripper, athermometer, a water-cooled reflux condenser, and a stirrer, and thevessel was purged with nitrogen. A monomer solution containing 0.2 partsof potassium persulfate, 17 parts of methyl acrylate, 20 parts of ethylacrylate, 30 parts of methyl methacrylate, and 5 parts of acrylic acidwas added dropwise to the vessel at 70° C. while stirring, polymerizingthe monomers into the shell portion. Sodium hydroxide was added toadjust the pH to within the range of 8 to 8.5. Then the core portion wasformed by polymerization with the shell portion as the site of reaction.Another monomer solution, which contained 0.2 parts of potassiumpersulfate, 22 parts of styrene, and 50 parts of n-butyl acrylate, wasadded dropwise to the vessel at 70° C., polymerizing the monomers. Inthis way, the core-shell polymer particle aqueous dispersion used inExample 33 was obtained.

The core-shell polymer particle aqueous dispersions used in Examples 34to 41 were produced in the same way as that for Example 33, except thata different monomer composition of the core portion and the shellportion was used as specified in Table 4.

3.8.2. Evaluation Methods

I. Abrasion Resistance

The abrasion resistance of the ink composition was evaluated in the sameway as Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 4.

II. Discharge Stability in Continuous Printing

The discharge stability of the ink composition in continuous printingwas evaluated in the same way as Example 1. The results are summarizedin Table 4.

III. Discharge Stability in Intermittent Printing

The discharge stability of the ink composition in intermittent printingwas evaluated in the same way as Example 12. The results are summarizedin Table 4.

IV. Storage Stability

The storage stability of the ink composition was evaluated in the sameway as Example 21. The results are summarized in Table 4.

3.9. Evaluation Results

Table 4 summarizes the monomer composition of the core portion and theshell portion and the physical properties of the polymer particle(particle diameter φ, the core-to-shell mass ratio, T_(g) of the coreportion and the shell portion, and THF gel fraction) for Examples 33 to42.

TABLE 4 Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam-Monomer Tg (° C.) ple 33 ple 34 ple 35 ple 36 ple 37 ple 38 ple 39 ple40 ple 41 ple 42 Core portion Styrene 80 22 22 22 22 22 15 15 10 20 22n-Butyl acrylate −55 50 50 50 50 50 57 57 38 80 50 Lauryl methacrylate−65 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acrylic acid 106 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shellportion Styrene 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Methyl acrylate 10 17 17 17 17 1717 17 22 10 17 Ethyl acrylate −24 20 10 10 10 10 15 15 25 10 10 Methylmethacrylate 105 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 20 30 Butyl acrylate −55 0 0 00 0 0 0 10 0 0 Acrylic acid 106 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 5 Methacrylic acid 2270 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 0 Methoxy PEG 400 −71 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 acrylate(*1) Methoxy TEG acrylate (*2) −50 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Methoxy PEG 400−60 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 5 methacrylate (*3) Methoxy PEG 1000 −30 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 methacrylate (*4) Lauryl acrylate −3 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 0Stearyl acrylate −10 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 Cetyl acrylate 34 0 0 0 0 5 0 00 0 0 Isobornyl methacrylate 94 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 Physical Particlediameter φ (nm) 35 30 30 32 32 28 28 28 28 32 properties Amount of thecore (% by mass) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 32 65 50 Amount of the shell (% bymass) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 68 35 50 Core portion T_(g) (° C.) −10 −10−10 −10 −10 −27 −27 −27 −28 −10 Shell portion T_(g) (° C.) 33 52 46 4550 48 48 34 59 45 Shell T_(g) − Core T_(g) 43 62 56 55 60 75 75 61 87 55Core-to-shell mass ratio (c/s) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2.1 0.54 1 (c/s)/φ 0.030.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.08 0.02 0.03 THF gel fraction (%) 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 Evaluations Discharge stability (continuous A A B A A A AA A A printing) Discharge stability (intermittent B A A A A A A A A Aprinting) Abrasion resistance (dry friction) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1010 Abrasion resistance (wet friction) 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 10Storage stability 8 6 7 8 9 6 10 11 15 63 (*1) Methoxy polyethyleneglycol #400 acrylate (average degree of polymerization of thepolyethylene glycol chain n = 9) (*2) Methoxy triethylene glycolacrylate (*3) Methoxy polyethylene glycol #400 methacrylate (averagedegree of polymerization of the polyethylene glycol chain n = 9) (*4)Methoxy polyethylene glycol #1000 acrylate (average degree ofpolymerization of the polyethylene glycol chain n = 23)

The ink compositions for ink jet recording according to Examples 33 to41 had higher storage stability than that of Example 42.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and canbe modified in various ways. For example, the invention includesconstitutions that are substantially the same as the precedingembodiments (e.g., those that have the same function, are used or madeby the same method, and provide the same results or are for the samepurposes and advantages). The invention also includes constitutionsobtained by changing any nonessential part of the preceding embodiments.Furthermore, the invention includes constitutions that have the sameoperations and offer the same advantages as the preceding embodimentsand constitutions that can achieve the same objects as the precedingembodiments. The invention also includes constitutions obtained byadding any known technology to the preceding embodiments.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-257163,filed Nov. 26, 2012 and No. 2013-061962, filed Mar. 25, 2013 and No.2013-120493 filed Jun. 7, 2013 are expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ink composition for ink jet recordingcomprising a polymer particle having a core portion and a shell portionon a surface of the core portion, the core portion having a glasstransition temperature of 0° C. or less and the shell portion having aglass transition temperature of 20° C. or more, wherein a differencebetween the glass transition temperature of the core portion and theglass transition temperature of the shell portion is 30° C. or more,wherein: a mass ratio c/s is in a range of 0.4 to 4, where c and s are amass of the core portion and the shell portion, respectively, of thepolymer particle; and a relation (c/s)/φ≧0.01 is satisfied where φ is aparticle diameter of the polymer particle in nm.
 2. The ink compositionfor ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein 80% by mass or moreof all repeating units of the core portion of the polymer particle arederived from a hydrophobic monomer.
 3. A method for ink jet recordingcomprising: (a) discharging a droplet of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 2 from a recording head onto a recordingmedium; and (b) heating the recording medium.
 4. The ink composition forink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein 80% by mass or more ofall repeating units of the shell portion of the polymer particle arederived from a hydrophilic monomer.
 5. A method for ink jet recordingcomprising: (a) discharging a droplet of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 4 from a recording head onto a recordingmedium; and (b) heating the recording medium.
 6. The ink composition forink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein 80% by mass or more ofall repeating units of the shell portion of the polymer particle arecomposed of a repeating unit (A) derived from at least one selected fromthe group consisting of methyl (meth)acrylate and ethyl (meth)acrylateand a repeating unit (B) derived from (meth)acrylic acid.
 7. A methodfor ink jet recording comprising: (a) discharging a droplet of the inkcomposition for ink jet recording according to claim 6 from a recordinghead onto a recording medium; and (b) heating the recording medium. 8.The ink composition for ink jet recording according to claim 1, whereinthe shell portion of the polymer particle has a repeating unit (C)derived from at least one hydrophobic monomer selected from the groupconsisting of a monofunctional (meth)acrylate having an alkyl groupcontaining 8 or more carbon atoms and a (meth)acrylate having a ringstructure containing 4 or more carbon atoms.
 9. The ink composition forink jet recording according to claim 8, wherein the ring structure is analicyclic or heterocyclic structure.
 10. The ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 8, wherein the repeating unit (C)constitutes 1% to 10% by mass of all repeating units of the shellportion of the polymer particle.
 11. The ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 8, wherein the shell portion of the polymerparticle further has a repeating unit (D) derived from a (meth)acrylatehaving a polyalkylene glycol unit.
 12. The ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 11, wherein the repeating unit (D)constitutes 1% to 10% by mass of all repeating units of the shellportion of the polymer particle.
 13. A method for ink jet recordingcomprising: (a) discharging a droplet of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 6 from a recording head onto a recordingmedium; and (b) heating the recording medium.
 14. The ink compositionfor ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein the particlediameter of the polymer particle is in a range of 30 nm to 500 nm. 15.The ink composition for ink jet recording according to claim 1, whereina gel fraction of the polymer particle is 10% or less as measured intetrahydrofuran.
 16. The ink composition for ink jet recording accordingto claim 1, wherein a polymer particle content is in a range of 0.5% to20% by mass, both inclusive.
 17. The ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 1, wherein an emulsifier content of the inkis 0.01% by mass or less.
 18. A method for ink jet recording comprising:(a) discharging a droplet of the ink composition for ink jet recordingaccording to claim 1 from a recording head onto a recording medium; and(b) heating the recording medium.
 19. A method for ink jet recordingcomprising: (a) discharging a droplet of the ink composition for ink jetrecording according to claim 1 from a recording head onto a recordingmedium; and (b) heating the recording medium.